Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and new COVID-19 outbreaks affecting the Chinese market, Norway exported NOK 34 billion worth of seafood in the first quarter of this year – its highest ever total for the first three months of a year.
Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) CEO, Renate Larsen, highlighted that although the industry had set a new record value in the quarter, it has been a demanding time for those engaged in global trade.
“A month of war has resulted in complicated flows of goods and more expensive logistics. Nevertheless, the Norwegian exporters have in an impressive way managed to supply the world with sustainable seafood from Norway.
“Complicated logistics due to closed airspace over Russia and new shutdowns due to increasing corona infection rates in China have changed the flow of goods,” Larsen said, adding that from March, the EU has accounted for an even greater share of the Norwegian export market.
She also pointed out that the country saw its lowest first-quarter export volume in six years, meaning that high prices were underpinning much of the value growth.
According to the NSC, Norway exported 283,200 tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon worth a record NOK 23.2 billion in the last quarter, with the export volume falling 5% but the value increasing 33% percent compared with Q1 2021.
Norway also sold 26,100 tonnes of fresh cod in the quarter for a record NOK 1.3 billion. Its 29,600 tonnes of frozen cod exports achieved the same total value.
In terms of pelagic species, Norway exported 89,400 tonnes of herring, valued at NOK 1.1 billion, and 61,500 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 1.2 billion, while its shellfish sector shipped 399 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 248 million, 1,300 tonnes of snow crab worth NOK 264 million, and 2,800 tonnes of coldwater prawns, valued at NOK 207 million.
